Liquid providing system

ABSTRACT

A liquid providing system of detecting a target container includes a main body, a holder, an optical sensor and an operational processor. The main body has a supporting platform. The holder is disposed on the supporting platform, and the holder is made by low reflectivity material and adapted to hold the target container. The optical sensor is disposed above the supporting platform and adapted to output a detection image containing the target container and the holder. The operational processor is electrically connected to the optical sensor, and adapted to analyze the detection image and then acquire an effective feature inside the detection image for distinguishing the target container from the holder.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of U.S. Application No.17/368,841, filed on July 7th, 2021. The content of the application isincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a liquid providing system, and moreparticularly, to a liquid providing system of accurately and rapidlydetecting a target container.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The conventional water dispenser cannot detect a liquid level andcontainer property of the container. The user watches the container andcontrols the button of water dispenser to prevent the water fromleakage. The conventional coffee mater may be able to detect whether thecontainer is put in the right position via the proximity sensor or theultrasonic sensor; however, the proximity sensor and the ultrasonicsensor cannot detect the body property of the container, volume of thecontainer and the liquid surface in the container. Thus, design of aliquid detection device of detecting the volume and the body property ofthe container and the liquid surface in the container via the opticaldetection technique for increasing functions of the water dispenser andthe coffee maker is an important issue of the related industry.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a liquid providing system of accuratelyand rapidly detecting a target container for solving above drawbacks.

According to the claimed invention, a liquid providing system ofdetecting a target container includes a main body, a holder, an opticalsensor and an operational processor. The main body has a supportingplatform. The holder is disposed on the supporting platform, and theholder is made by low reflectivity material and adapted to hold thetarget container. The optical sensor is disposed above the supportingplatform and adapted to output a detection image containing the targetcontainer and the holder. The operational processor is electricallyconnected to the optical sensor, and adapted to analyze the detectionimage and then acquire an effective feature inside the detection imagefor distinguishing the target container from the holder.

The liquid providing system of detecting a target container includes amain body, a holder, an optical sensor and an operational processor. Themain body has a supporting platform. The holder is disposed on thesupporting platform, and the holder is made by low reflectivity materialand adapted to hold the target container. The optical sensor is disposedabove the supporting platform and adapted to output a detection imagecontaining the target container and the holder. The operationalprocessor is electrically connected to the optical sensor, and adaptedto analyze the detection image and then acquire an effective featureinside the detection image for distinguishing the target container fromthe holder.

These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt becomeobvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading thefollowing detailed description of the preferred embodiment that isillustrated in the various figures and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a liquid providing system according to a firstembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the liquid providing systemaccording to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are diagrams of detection images acquired by theliquid providing system in different situations according to the firstembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are diagrams of the detection images acquired by theliquid providing system in other situations according to the firstembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram of the liquid providing system according to a secondembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram of the liquid providing systemaccording to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram of the detection image acquired by the liquidproviding system according to the second embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 are diagrams of the detection images acquired by theliquid providing system via different exposure parameters according tothe second embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Please refer to FIG. 1 to FIG. 4 . FIG. 1 is a diagram of a liquidproviding system 10 according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the liquid providingsystem 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are diagrams of detection images acquired by theliquid providing system 10 in different situations according to thefirst embodiment of the present invention. The liquid providing system10 can include a main body 12, an optical sensor 14, a fan 16, a liquidinjector 18 and an operational processor 20. The main body 12 can have asupporting platform 22 whereon the target container 24 can be disposed.The optical sensor 14 and the liquid injector 18 can be disposed on themain body 12 and adjacent to each other, and can be located above thesupporting platform 22. The fan 16 can be disposed on the main body 12,and further on position adjacent to the optical sensor 14 or under theoptical sensor 14. Any position of the fan 16 capable of facing thesupporting platform 22 belongs to a scope of the present invention.

The liquid injector 18 can inject liquid into the target container 24.The optical sensor 14 can output the detection image I containing thetarget container 24. The operational processor 20 can be electricallyconnected to the optical sensor 14, the fan 16 and the liquid injector18. The operational processor 20 can analyze the detection image I toacquire at least one feature of the target container 24, so as todetermine liquid level information of the target container 24. However,if the liquid has high temperature liquid and the fan 16 is shut down,the optical sensor 14 is surrounded by hot steam so that the detectionimage I generated by the optical sensor 14 has the blurry feature. Thus,the operational processor 20 can actuate the fan 16, and analyze thedetection image I2 generated during an operation period of the fan 16,so as to acquire an effective feature of the target container 24 insidethe detection image I2, and further to accurately determine the liquidlevel information of the target container 24.

In the present invention, the fan 16 can optionally provide anattraction force or an exhaust force to remove gaseous matter around thesupporting platform 22, and therefore the optical sensor 14 can acquirethe clear detection image I without interference of the hot steam;further, the fan 16 may alternately provide the attraction force andexhaust force. Any mode of the fan 16 capable of removing the gaseousmatter around the supporting platform 22 rapidly and effectively belongsto the scope of the present invention.

When the optical sensor 14 generates the detection image I, theoperational processor 20 can immediately analyze and determine whetherthe detection image I has the blurry feature or the clear feature. Ifthe optical sensor 14 generates the detection image I1 having low imagequality, the operational processor 20 can actuate the fan 16, orincrease a wind force of the fan 16 in response to the actuated fan 16;if the optical sensor 14 generates the detection image I2 havingpreferred image quality, the operational processor 20 can shut down thefan 16, or decrease the wind force of the fan 16 in response to theactuated fan 16.

Besides, the liquid providing system 10 may optionally dispose atemperature sensor (which is not shown in the figures) on the main body12. The temperature sensor can be electrically connected to theoperational processor 20 and located above the supporting platform 22,and used to detect variation of the environmental temperature resultedfrom the target container 24. If the environmental temperature acquiredby the temperature sensor is greater than a predefined temperaturevalue, the liquid inside the target container 24 has hot temperature,and the operational processor 20 can actuate the fan 16 or increase thewind force of the fan 16; if the environmental temperature acquired bythe temperature sensor is equal to or smaller than the predefinedtemperature value, the liquid inside the target container 24 does nothave the hot temperature, and the operational processor 20 can shut downthe fan 16 or decrease the wind force of the fan 16.

Moreover, the liquid providing system 10 may optionally dispose a heater26 on the main body 12. The heater 26 can be electrically connected tothe operational processor 20, and used to increase the environmentaltemperature around the supporting platform 22. The heater 26 preferablycan be a middle infrared (MIR) heater used to output a heating beam witha wavelength ranged between 2000~4000 nm, and aimed to heat the hotstream for rapid dissipation. The operational processor 20 can determinewhether to actuate the heater 26 and decide power level of the actuatedheater 26 in accordance with at least one of the image quality of thedetection image I and the environmental temperature of the temperaturesensor. It should be mentioned that the operational processor 20 cansimultaneously actuate the fan 16 and the heater 26, or alternatelyactuate the fan 16 or the heater 26. Actuation of the fan 16 and theheater 26 can depend on an amount of the hot steam and power supplycondition of the liquid providing system 10, and a detailed descriptionis omitted herein for simplicity.

Generally, the liquid providing system 10 can preferably utilize aprotector 28 to cover the optical sensor 14, and a defogging layer canbe formed on an outer surface of the protector 28. The protector 28 canavoid the image quality of the detection image I acquired by the opticalsensor 14 from being interfered by the hot steam. The defogging layermay be formed by polycarbonate or polyester with high hydrophility, andcan provide a continuous liquid film on the optical sensor 14 to preventa beam from being irregularly scattered for increasing clarity of theoptical sensor 14. Material of the defogging layer is not limited to theabove-mentioned embodiments, and depends on the design demand.

The liquid providing system 10 can further include a light source 30disposed on the main body 12 and electrically connected to theoperational processor 20. The light source 30 can emit an illuminationbeam toward the supporting platform 22, and the image quality andclarity of the detection image I can be increased accordingly. In otherpossible embodiment, the liquid providing system 10 may dispose thelight source 30 on a lateral side of the main body 12, and theillumination beam emitted by the light source 30 can be projected onto alateral surface of the target container 24. Please refer to FIG. 5 andFIG. 6 . FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are diagrams of the detection images acquiredby the liquid providing system 10 in other situations according to thefirst embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5 , if thetarget container 24 is an opaque container, the detection image I3acquired by the optical sensor 14 can show an illumination feature whichresults from the illumination beam on a small part of the lateralsurface of the target container 24; as shown in FIG. 6 , if the targetcontainer 24 is a transparent container, the detection image I4 acquiredby the optical sensor 14 can show the illumination feature appeared on alarge part of the lateral surface and a middle of the target container24.

The liquid providing system 10 can utilize the light source 30 toilluminate the lateral surface of the target container 24, and executeimage identification via a deep learning method or a reference imagecomparison method, so as to determine the target container 24 belongs tothe transparent container or the opaque container, and to accordinglyselect a suitable algorithm for accurately acquiring the effectivefeature of the target container 24 inside the detection image I. Theliquid providing system 10 may dispose one light source 30 on the mainbody 12, and the light source 30 can increase illumination of the targetcontainer 24 and classify body property of the target container 24;further, the liquid providing system 10 may optionally dispose two lightsources 30 which can respectively increase the illumination of thetarget container 24 and classify the body property of the targetcontainer 24.

Therefore, when the liquid providing system 10 acquires the detectionimage I, the body property can be detected to classify the illuminationfeature resulted from the lateral illumination beam inside the detectionimage I for determining the target container 24 is the opaque containeror the transparent container. If the target container 24 is the opaquecontainer, a related exposure algorithm can be applied for computing arim height and a liquid height of the target container 24, so as toacquire the liquid level information of the target container 24. Thesaid liquid level information may be a ratio of the liquid height to therim height of the target container 24, which depends on an actualdemand. If the target container 24 is the transparent container, aproperty of the liquid inside the target container 24 can be identifiedfor a start, such as determining the liquid inside the target container24 being water or coffee, and the related exposure algorithm can beapplied for computing the rim height and the liquid height of the targetcontainer 24 in accordance with the liquid property, and then the liquidlevel information of the target container 24 can be acquired.

Please refer to FIG. 7 to FIG. 11 . FIG. 7 is a diagram of the liquidproviding system 50 according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention. FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram of the liquid providingsystem 50 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 9 is a diagram of the detection image acquired by the liquidproviding system 50 according to the second embodiment of the presentinvention. FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 are diagrams of the detection imagesacquired by the liquid providing system 50 via different exposureparameters according to the second embodiment of the present invention.The liquid providing system 50 can include a main body 52, a holder 54,an optical sensor 56 and an operational processor 58. The main body 52can have a supporting platform 60. The holder 54 can be made by lowreflectivity material, and disposed on the supporting platform 60 tohold the target container 62. The optical sensor 56 can be disposedabove the supporting platform 60, and generate the detection image Icontaining the target container 62 and the holder 54. The operationalprocessor 58 can be electrically connected to the optical sensor 56 andused to analyze the detection image I, so as to acquire the effectivefeature inside the detection image I for distinguishing the targetcontainer 62 from the holder 54.

The liquid providing system 50 can detect the liquid level informationof the target container 62 which is manufactured by transparentmaterial. The supporting platform 60 may be formed via high reflectivitymaterial; if the target container 62 is directly put on the supportingplatform 60, the detection image I acquired by the optical sensor 56 canhave reflective features of the supporting platform 60 and the targetcontainer 62, and the operational processor 58 cannot acquire thecorrect liquid level information of the target container 62 due tointerference of the reflective feature of the supporting platform 60. Asshown in FIG. 9 , the liquid providing system 50 can put the holder 54made by the low reflectivity material on the supporting platform 60 tohold the target container 62. The detection image I can contain theeffective feature of the target container 62 and the holder 54 only, soas to avoid high reflection interference of the supporting platform 60,and to increase identification accuracy of the detection image I.

Besides, the liquid providing system 50 can further adjust an exposureparameter of the detection image to distinguish the rim from the liquidheight of the target container 62, for acquiring the correct liquidlevel information of the target container 24. The optical sensor 56 cangenerate a plurality of detection images I in accordance with differentexposure parameters; for example, a first detection image I1 may begenerated via a first exposure parameter with a large value, and asecond detection image Is may be generated via a second exposureparameter with a small value. When the rim and the liquid height of thetarget container 62 are unknown, the optical sensor 56 can alternatelygenerate the first detection image I1 and the second detection image Is;if the liquid level information is acquired but probably varied, theoptical sensor 56 can adjust a number ratio of the first detection imageI1 to the second detection image Is in accordance with a detectionresult, so as to accurately and rapidly acquire the following liquidlevel information of the target container 24.

For example, the operational processor 58 can compare the acquiredliquid height with a predefined height condition, and adjust the numberratio of the first detection image I1 to the second detection image Isduring a specific period in accordance with a comparison result. If theliquid height does not conform to or is lower than the predefined heightcondition, the target container 62 may be empty, and the optical sensor56 can alternately generate the first detection image I1 and the seconddetection image Is for image detection. If the liquid height conforms toor is higher than the predefined height condition, the target container62 is filled with the liquid, and the number of the second detectionimage Is during the specific period can be increased to find outcontinuous variation of the liquid level information; the firstdetection image I1 still can be used to detect the rim for determiningwhether the target container 62 is moved. It should be mentioned thatthe optical sensor 56 may only generate the second detection image Is todetect the continuous variation of the liquid level information when theliquid height conforms to or is higher than the predefined heightcondition.

The target container 62 is made by transparent material; the opticalsensor 56 can increase the exposure parameter of the detection image I,so that the liquid providing system 50 can clearly identify the rim ofthe target container 62 via the first detection image I1 generated bythe first exposure parameter. The foresaid rim can be marked by a dottedcircle shown in FIG. 10 . However, the first detection image I1generated by the long exposure parameter cannot used to clearly identifythe liquid height due to internal reflection of the target container 62,and the liquid providing system 50 can further analyze the seconddetection image Is generated by the second exposure parameter toidentify the liquid height inside the target container 62. Thus, theliquid providing system 50 can adjust the exposure parameter of thedetection images to immediately detect the rim and the liquid height ofthe target container 62.

Actual values of the first exposure parameter and the second exposureparameter may be varied in accordance with the environmentalillumination, the auxiliary illumination, the detection efficiency ofthe optical sensor 56, and the algorithm of the operational processor58, and a detailed description is omitted herein for simplicity. Itshould be mentioned that the liquid providing system 50 can optionallyset two feature threshold ranges, and compare the image features of thefirst detection image Il and the second detection image Is respectivelywith the two feature threshold ranges. The image feature can beintensity or other parameters of the detection image. If the imagefeature is greater than the feature threshold range, the detection imagehas high intensity, and the exposure parameter of the optical sensor 56can be automatically decreased for preferred image quality. If the imagefeature is equal to or smaller than the feature threshold range, thedetection image has low intensity, and the exposure parameter of theoptical sensor 56 can be automatically increased, so that the firstdetection image I1 and the second detection image Is can be generatedvia the applicable exposure parameters to provide the effective featuresfor distinguishing the rim from the liquid height of the targetcontainer 62.

Besides, the liquid providing system 50 can optionally dispose a lightsource 64 on the main body 52. The light source 64 can be electricallyconnected to the operational processor 58. As the first embodimentmentioned above, the light source 64 can emit the illumination beamtoward the supporting platform 60. The light source 64 can increase theillumination of the detection image I, and further be used to detect thebody property of the target container 62. The liquid providing system 50can utilize the light source 64 to determine the target container 62 ismade by transparent material, and then select the corresponding exposurealgorithm to actuate the optical sensor 56 for generating the firstdetection image I1 and the second detection image Is via differentexposure parameters, so as to accurately distinguish the rim from theliquid height of the target container 62.

In conclusion, the liquid providing system of the present invention canutilize at least one of the fan and the heater to remove the hot steamabove the target container, to ensure that the detection image acquiredby the optical sensor is not interfered. The liquid providing system canfurther dispose the protector with the defogging layer on the opticalsensor, for preventing the quality of the detection image from beinginterfered by the hot steam. The liquid providing system can preferablydispose the holder made by the low reflectivity material on thesupporting platform, and utilize the light source to illuminate thelateral surface of the target container; then, the optical sensor cangenerate the detection images with different exposure parameters todecide the target container belongs to the transparent container or theopaque container, and select the corresponding exposure algorithm inaccordance with the body property, so as to accurately detect the rimand the liquid height of the target container.

Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerousmodifications and alterations of the device and method may be made whileretaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the abovedisclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and boundsof the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A liquid providing system of detecting a targetcontainer, the liquid providing system comprising: a main body, having asupporting platform; a holder disposed on the supporting platform, theholder being made by low reflectivity material and adapted to hold thetarget container; an optical sensor disposed above the supportingplatform and adapted to output a detection image containing the targetcontainer and the holder; and an operational processor electricallyconnected to the optical sensor, and adapted to analyze the detectionimage and then acquire an effective feature inside the detection imagefor distinguishing the target container from the holder.
 2. The liquidproviding system of claim 1, wherein the optical sensor is spaced fromthe supporting platform and faces toward the holder to capture thedetection image from a top of the target container.
 3. The liquidproviding system of claim 1, further comprising: a light source disposedon the main body and adjacent to the optical sensor and adapted to emitan illumination beam toward the supporting platform.
 4. The liquidproviding system of claim 3, wherein the illumination beam is projectedonto a lateral surface of the target container, and the operationalprocessor analyzes an illumination feature of the illumination beaminside the detection image to determine the target container is atransparent container or an opaque container.
 5. The liquid providingsystem of claim 1, wherein the optical sensor utilizes differentexposure parameters to respectively output a plurality of detectionimages.
 6. The liquid providing system of claim 5, wherein theoperational processor compares an image feature of the detection imagewith a feature threshold range, and decreases an exposure parameter ofthe optical sensor when the image feature is greater than the featurethreshold range and further increases the exposure parameter when theimage feature is equal to or smaller than the feature threshold range.7. The liquid providing system of claim 5, wherein the operationalprocessor utilizes a first exposure parameter and a second exposureparameter to alternately output a first detection image and a seconddetection image, and the first exposure parameter of the first detectionimage is greater than the second exposure parameter of the seconddetection image.
 8. The liquid providing system of claim 7, wherein theoperational processor analyzes the first detection image to detect a rimof the target container, and further analyzes the second detection imageto decide a liquid height inside the target container.
 9. The liquidproviding system of claim 8, wherein the operational processor comparesthe liquid height with a predefined height condition, and adjusts anumber ratio of the first detection image to the second detection imageduring a specific period in accordance with a comparison result.
 10. Theliquid providing system of claim 9, wherein the operational processorincreases a number of the second detection image during the specificperiod when the liquid height conforms to the predefined heightcondition.
 11. The liquid providing system of claim 9, wherein theoperational processor only utilizes the second exposure parameter tooutput the second detection image when the liquid height conforms to thepredefined height condition.
 12. The liquid providing system of claim 1,further comprising: a liquid injector disposed on the main body andabove the supporting platform and adjacent to the optical sensor, andadapted to inject liquid into the target container.